Newburyport Mom, Grandmother Charged With Raising Child In 'Deplorable' Home

NEWBURYPORT (CBS) — A mother and grandmother now face criminal charges after police say they were raising a 7-year-old girl in "deplorable" and "unsanitary" living conditions in Newburyport.

Officers were called to a house on Strong Street Sunday evening after getting an anonymous tip from the state's child abuse hotline.

Once inside, an officer described it as "one of the worst living conditions I have ever witnessed."

Police issued this statement about the home:

"The kitchen counters were covered with trash, clothes, and other items. Filthy clothing, trash, and animal feces covered the floors. There were flies all around and fly strips hanging from the light fixtures. All the rooms in the house had limited access due to piles of clothing, trash, furniture, etc. Access to some of the rooms was completely blocked and the safety conditions were extremely dangerous even for the most fit and able person."

Newburyport police Sgt. Matthew Simons called the city's health inspector, who gave him the authorization to condemn the building and remove the grandmother, mother and her 7-year-old daughter who were living there.

Police announced Tuesday that they have charged both Kristen Paquette, 32, and her mother Debra Paquette, 54, with one count each of reckless endangerment of a child.

"The primary interest of all agencies involved continues to be for the well-being of the minor child and helping connect the family with the services that they need. The City of Newburyport Health Department is currently working with the family in an effort to get the house cleaned up," Simons said in a statement Tuesday.